PD-1983-12

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November 2, 1983

To: Campus
From: President Gail Fullerton
Subject: United Way Campaign

Dear Colleague:

San José State University is more than a cluster of
buildings with surrounding grounds. This University is expected by
the society that supports us to be a manifestation of the best in
human nature, to be an intellectual and ethical community to which
parents can send their sons and. daughters to acquire a humane view
of life as well as knowledge and professional skills.

As much as this University has done toward preserving and
developing knowledge and im?parting it to our students, in one way
we as a University have not been living up to the expectations that
our community has for us. Only a small fraction of our faculty,
staff, and administrators have been contributors to the United Way.
Almost all of the industries in our valley have a significantly
higher participation rate in the United Way fund drive than does
San José State University.

There are 2,832 persons on the payroll of this campus; last year
only 379 of us con?tributed to the United Way. The total
contributions from SJSU were a meager $19,670, an average of $51.90
per person contributing. Granted, it was a year in which there was
no cost of living raise for us, but it was still a year in which we
were employed many of our neighbors were not. If half of us had
contributed at the same average amount, the contributions from San,
José State University to the community of which we are a part
would have totaled $73,490.

The many United Way agencies with which departments at SJSU are
involved through intern placements, for example -- depend on
contributions for their continued existence. If for some reason you
have become hesitant about donating to the United Way, there is an
alternative during this same drive to make a contribution to other
organizations.

The drive on campus is the California State Employees Combined
Fund Drive, a payroll deduction program through which you can
designate funds for specific United Way agencies (perhaps one where
your school has interns) or you can give to other organizations --
e.g., some environmental groups -- that are not included in the
United Way. A list of these organizations will be available from
the Combined Fund Drive coordinator who will be talking with you
sometime between now and November 18.

When the Combined Fund Drive coordinator in your area gives you
a payroll deduction form, please consider using this to make your
contribution. There is a minimum of $2.00 per month for payroll
deduction. Your gift through payroll deduction is certain to appear
as part of the total from San José State University, and your
payroll slips provide a record of your tax-deductible donation.

Our campus goal for 1983 is to reverse the downward trend of the
last few years and to sign up, through payroll deduction, at least
50% of full-time employees. I will continue my own payroll
deduction and hope that you, as an individual, will consider
carefully what you are capable of giving. If each of us gives our
fair share, San José State University can indeed be a model of
enlightened self-interest.